A non-partisan look at voting trends in the American Jewish community.

No one really knows exactly how many Jews are there in the United States: too few to be reliably polled, too confusingly defined to be reliably counted. In the largest study of the American Jewish community of recent decades, the number was put around 5.2 million. Yet later studies repudiated that figure, putting the number higher – at 6.4 million (a Brandeis University team) or closer to 6.6 million (Ira Sheskin of Miami University and Arnold Dashefsky of Connecticut University). Of course, not all of them vote, but Jews do historically vote at a much higher rate than the rest of the American public, and the Jewish population is older than the rest of the general public. In other words, more Jews are eligible to vote, possibly close to 80%. That's 80% of the approximately 2% of Americans who are Jewish, of which many go to the polls come Election Day – maybe as many as five million Jewish voters across the country.

Jews tend to move to states with a high number of electoral votes: The top four states with the largest Jewish populations account for 127 electoral votes; the top 10 states with the largest Jewish populations account for 244 electoral votes. However, most of them cast their ballots in places where there will be no real competition between Obama and Romney. Four states have a Jewish population that accounts for more than half of all American Jews: New York, California, Florida and New Jersey. Eight states have a population of close to a quarter of a million Jews: New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland. In New York, Jews make up about 8% of the population. In New Jersey it is 5-6%. In Maryland and Massachusetts the percentage of Jews is also greater than 4%.

Those with the highest concentration of Jews are not battleground states.

Most of these are not expected to be battlefield states. In most of them President Obama is going to cruise to victory without having to invest much time campaigning among Jews and non-Jews alike. The notable exception is Florida – a toss-up state, and a must-win for Romney, in which Jews make about 3.5% of the population; Pennsylvania (2.3% Jewish) is a less probable exception – a state in which Romney is making an investment (albeit not a state that the Jews could reasonably deliver even if the vote were very close). The McCain campaign of 2008 also hoped for a while to take Pennsylvania, but didn't even come close; New Jersey is even less probable: It went for the Republican candidate from 1972 to 1988, but for the Democratic candidates ever since. Nevertheless, in almost every election cycle there's a point at which Republicans flirt with the idea of a New Jersey win.

Florida, and maybe, just maybe, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey – with so few Jews in so few states of consequence, one wonders, does the Jewish vote even matter? "With most elections being decided by 1-5 percentage points, even a small minority can influence an election, particularly in states with somewhat larger percentages of Jews," declares one researcher. "The Jewish seniors in South Florida always have disproportionate influence in an election year," points out another. Others are more skeptical. In reality, for Jewish votes to be of any significance come Election Day, the margin between candidates has to be very small – very, very small – and in very specific areas.

Take Ohio, for example. Jews in this state comprise 1.3% of the population and about 3% of the vote. In 2004, a very close election, George W. Bush took the state by 2.1% of the entire Ohio electorate. This means that even in the tightest of elections, you need every single Jew to vote as one bloc to make a difference. That is very unlikely to happen, as even the most optimistic (among Republican operatives) and the most pessimistic (among Democratic operatives) put the percentage of Jewish swing voters in play at no higher than 15% to 18%, which could potentially be added to the 24% of Jewish Americans who voted for John McCain in 2008.

Or take Florida, the most talked-about state of possible Jewish consequence, a state in which the Jews were allegedly responsible for a month-long lock on the presidential pick, following the 2000 elections, a state where Joe Lieberman was able to bring Al Gore very close to winning, thanks to, among others, Jewish voters. Florida has been for a number of years now the ground zero of American Jewish politics – from Lieberman of 2000 to the Sarah Silverman video supporting Obama of 2008.

The Lieberman Factor

Lieberman is the most demonstrable manifestation to date of American Jewish political prowess, having been the Democratic VP candidate. But in 2008 Lieberman was in Florida to support his good friend, Senator McCain (McCain would later even consider him as possible running mate). When I saw him there, trying to convince Jewish residents of the state, many of whom are of retirement age, to vote for the Republican candidate, I was reminded of an old story about the 1952 Adlai Stevenson campaign. When Stevenson was campaigning in California – the story goes – a woman asked him where he got his tan. "You been playing golf?" the woman asked. "No," responded Stevenson, "I got this tan making outdoor speeches in Florida." Well,” said the woman, "if you got that brown you talked for too long."

In 2008 Florida, while Obama was struggling to convince Jewish voters that he will provide firm support for Israel, Lieberman talked too long about why the opposite was true. He told them that Obama's Mideast policy was going to hurt Israel and the United States. Following an Obama address to the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, reporters were called in to see Lieberman. "I appreciate many of the very good intentions toward Israel that Senator Obama expressed today," the Jewish senator said. "But I also thought, respectfully, that there was a disconnect between what he said today, particularly in regard to Iran, and things he has said and done earlier.” Obama did not support the so-called Lieberman-Kyle amendment, which called on the U.S. administration to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

Obama was angry with Lieberman, and at a meeting between the two expressed his disappointment at the tone and content of the assaults. He was a little worried at the time, early summer of 2008, because the polls were telling him that the Jews were less enthusiastic about him than they had been about previous party candidates. And such worries were especially evident in the Florida campaign.

But a summer-long battle ended decisively, when fall surveys put Jews right where they usually belong. A Gallup poll revealed that nationally, the "proportion of U.S. Jews backing Obama is identical to the level of support the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards received in the 2004 presidential election – 74% – and was "only slightly lower than what Al Gore and Joe Lieberman received in 2000 – 80%. More specifically, a Quinnipiac University poll of the Florida vote gave Obama a 77% to 20% lead over McCain in the Sunshine State.

Calculations of doomsday scenarios keep appearing in the media.

As for 2012, calculations of possible doomsday scenarios keep appearing in the papers. "If Obama receives only 68 percent of Florida's Jewish vote, which is what a recent Gallup poll showed him earning nationally, it could mean 20,000 fewer Florida votes than he received in 2008,” warned the Tampa Bay Times in mid-summer.

So yes, one can imagine a Florida showdown in which every Jewish vote counts. But all in all, it is worth remembering that thus far no presidential election is US history has been determined by Jewish voters flocking to one side or the other. Counting Jews, counting them in the crucial states, counting those that can be swayed to the other side, counting those that can make an electoral difference – counting all those hardly explains all the coverage and noise associated with the Jewish vote. But if counting isn't the way to measure the importance of the Jewish vote, which way is the right way?

A Jewish GOP?

Over the last several decades, Democratic party identification overall has fluctuated both up and down, from 36% at the high points in 1988 and 2008 (according to Gallup poll tracking), to a low of 31% in 2010. Among many traditionally Democratic groups, such as white Southerners, Catholics and others, the trend has been fairly consistently downward, even as other groups, mainly Hispanics, have become more reliable supporters of the party. But while others were busy changing affiliation, the Jews' political leanings have remained largely the same. "Twenty percent of Jews line up with the Republican candidate, 60 percent with the Democratic candidate. About 20 percent are uncommitted to a particular party,” explained one writer. This is not exactly accurate today, but is close enough to make the point.

There are many explanations for the unique political behavior of the Jewish voter, most focusing on the relatively liberal views of Jews on almost all social issues, while others suggesting that the "rural, overwhelmingly Christian and Southern" nature of the GOP is a turn-off. The Washington Post's conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin framed it thus: "They don't sound like us, they don't talk like us, and they don't understand us." Whatever the reason, the outcome is quite clear, and the number of Jewish votes at play seems small.

Will 2012 prove to be any different? In August 2011, New York Times op-ed columnist Charles Blow – relying on data from the Pew Research Center – argued that "the number of Jews who identify as Republican or as independents who lean Republican has increased by more than half since the year [Barack Obama] was elected. At 33 percent, it now stands at the highest level since the data have been kept. In 2008, the ratio of Democratic Jews to Republican Jews was far more than three to one. Now it's less than two to one.”

In response to criticism from some quarters, Blow repeated his claim a few weeks later in another column, in which he argued that "Obama's approval rating among Jews in 2010 averaged 58 percent. This percentage was the lowest of all those representing his enthusiastic supporter groups except one, the religious unaffiliated.” Blow's claim that Obama's loss of support among Jews should be attributed to the president's positions on Israel was furiously debated (many of Blow's critics were associated with the dovish J Street lobby, and relied on many polls in which Jews rank the topic of "Israel" as fairly low in their voting priorities). Nevertheless, the question remains: Are Jews – as Pew researchers argue – "the only religious group analyzed in which the percentage who identify themselves as Republican (as opposed to leaning toward the GOP) has risen significantly"?

Studies suggest that the GOP is gaining somewhat among Jewish voters.

To help make all this a numbers-based type of discussion, we pulled together and analyzed data available from four sources: The annual survey of American Jewish opinion by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Gallup polls, the study on Jewish Distinctiveness in America by Tom W. Smith (from 2005 – we needed those to get a glimpse of previous decades) and the Pew Research Center studies. The result was quite revealing: Pew studies definitely suggest that the GOP is gaining somewhat among Jewish voters (that was the basis for Blow's argument), and the other data is more nuanced, but as we kept tracking it pointed at similar numbers.

Having said that, and knowing that party identification is the best projector of voting behavior, the picture is quite clear: On a good day, Mitt Romney has a glass ceiling of 35%, on not as good a day, he will outperform McCain by 1% and get to 27% of the Jewish vote. Pollster Jim Gerstein, simulating an Obama-Romney race in November of 2011, predicted an Obama lead among Jews 63% to 24%. And when Gerstein – a Democrat – allocated "the undecided voters by party identification – a common practice among political pollsters when trying to map out the outcome of a race" he split the vote 70% for Obama to 27% for Romney.

Other pollsters had somewhat rosier predictions for Romney. According to the AJC survey, he could get as much as 33% of the Jewish vote. But since we've already showed how small the number of undecided Jews is, it is clear that the number of voters that could still be transferred from one candidate to the other is miniscule. Just calculate: If the Jewish swing votes in play are no more than 8% percent – Romney's ceiling is close to the mid-30s. But for him to get to that number, one needs to give him the votes of every single undecided Jewish voter. And that's not quite realistic. If Romney gets half the votes of undecided Jews, he'll be around 30%. This means 4% more than McCain's 2008 vote, and in places like Ohio might mean a four-percent addition within the 3% Jewish vote. A tiny fraction of voters. So – again – why even bother?

Long-term Investment

Yet interestingly, in this election cycle a lot of fuss has been generated about the highly publicized investment by Las Vegas casino magnate, philanthropist and billionaire Sheldon Adelson. An investment that targets Jewish voters. With the Adelson money, the Republican Jewish Coalition, headed by Matt Brooks, initiated an advertising campaign in some of the battle states in which Jews live in high proportions, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and, of course, Florida. It is a series of ads entitled "My Buyer's Remorse": Jewish Obama voters are shown switching sides because they are disappointed with the economy, or with his other policies, notably relations with Israel. A $6.5 million campaign – and for what? To get the 4% of 3% to switch sides?

Probably not. It is hard to imagine people as smart as this wasting money on a campaign of no likely consequence. There must be another reason – or reasons. And since the number of voters we're talking about is fairly small, the explanation must be to do with a small number of people making a big enough difference to matter.

Three such reasons are worthy of mention.

The first one – call it the "every-vote-counts" explanation – is the one relevant primarily to Florida votes in a very tight year. That Jews haven't yet tipped an election doesn't exclude the possibility that one day they might.

Jewish mega-giving is playing a large role in Election 2012.

The second reason – the one that is mentioned by the experts more than all others – is Jewish money. Jews have high incomes compared to other American groups, and are a highly engaged group politically. This includes donating to political parties and causes. One 2011 study of the Jewish electorate found that "one in two respondents had given money to a political party.” And the givers, says veteran columnist Jim Besser, are of a very certain type: "While Jewish voting isn't very Israel-focused, Jewish campaign giving is – and especially the mega-giving that is playing a bigger role than ever in Election 2012.”

In other words, if Besser is right, then the money Adelson is giving is really more an investment than a gift: He is giving his good Jewish money to the Republicans to bring on board more Jews who will give them even more money and more importantly not give to the democrats who heavily rely on it. According to some reports, "campaign donations from Jews or Jewish and pro-Israel groups account for as much as 60 percent of Democratic money.” That's reason enough for both parties to court the Jewish vote.

For final numbers from the 2012 campaigns, one will have to wait a little longer, until all races are concluded. But some numbers from past years are available for those interested in tracking Jewish funds. One example: Pro-Israel political contributions (including funds to Political Action Committees, or PACs) – almost $14 million in 2008, close to $13 million in the 2010 midterm cycle – about 35% goes into GOP-leaning organizations and 65% to Democratic organizations. Republicans, then, have a long way to go if the goal is to take money away from Democratic-leaning organizations. They might be trying to do it based on identification of a "distinctive Jewish conservative voice emerging on Israel-related matters and an array of domestic social issues.”

Outperforming Expectations

Apart from the more tangible votes and money, though, a third factor seems to be in play as the significance of the Jewish vote is hyped time and again, and as the level of coverage of Jewish voters and analysis of Jewish calculations far outweigh its significance compared to other American sub-groups. One would say it's the influence that Jews have in the media and their solid presence in notable positions. Others would point to their presence in celebrity circles and the arts, while still others would look to the over-representation of Jews in American politics, as advisors, consultants, pollsters, analysts and elected officials.

But you can really just call it the bellwether factor. Jews are seen as major political players because they believe that their vote really counts, because they project self-importance. They might not tip elections, but they appear as if they can. "Focusing on presidential elections since 1980,” wrote historian Jonathan Sarna, "it appears that about 30 percent of Jewish voters may be characterized as swing voters, swayed by general as well as Jewish issues, particularly the economy, Israel, and church-state issues. When the majority of these voters swing toward the Republicans, it sends a warning to the Democratic Party.”

Politicians understand pressure and make the necessary adjustments.

Such "warning" might come in many guises. In a post-2008 election conference call with Jewish Republicans – who had to face the undeniable truth that a vast majority of Jews, yet again, had voted for the Democratic candidate – the RJC leaders had an interesting case to make. Because of our fierce campaign to sway Jewish voters, they said, the Democrats had to invest much more effort on the Jewish vote this time. Moreover, the concerns the Democrats had about Obama losing Jewish voters made the candidate more prone to give pro-Israel speeches. In essence, the Jewish Republicans were trying to take some of the credit for the making of the pro-Israel Obama. And that's not as preposterous as one's initial gut response might dictate: Politicians understand pressure – Obama was pressured, he made the necessary adjustments; namely, he was more attentive to Jewish concerns – or at least more attentive to the need of voters for him to reassure them.

Obama could have easily won the 2008 election without the Jews, but losing Jewish voters would have projected badly on him, would have raised doubts, would have provoked unnecessary negative attention. Obama wanted to get the Jewish vote – all candidates want to outperform expectations with Jewish voters. The Jewish vote is a symbol. For Democrats, who get the majority of it – it is a symbol of tradition and well being. For Republicans, struggling to increase their share – a symbol of possible success with the general public.

In the 1988 race between Michael Dukakis and George H.W. Bush, polls were highly inaccurate, or perhaps it was the public that was very confused. During the summer prior to the election, Dukakis seemed for a while as the very likely victor against Bush. And it was only after the GOP convention did reality start to sink in. Bush was running against a candidate who was never very popular with Jewish voters, and was the successor of a president who was (relatively speaking) popular among Jews. Reagan got more than 30% of the Jewish vote on two occasions; Bush, running on Reagan's coattails has crossed this threshold once. The second time, he lost the Jews – and lost the election.

That is not to say that where the Jews go America also goes. But it is interesting to note that when it comes to the Jewish vote, there's a big difference between 30% of Jews voting for a losing GOP candidate, and 30% of Jews voting for a winning GOP candidate. With winning candidates, it does happen from time to time: The 1988 Bush, the 1980 and 1984 Reagan, the 1972 Richard Nixon, the 1952 and 1956 Dwight Eisenhower. However, the last losing GOP candidate to get more than 30% of the Jewish vote was Charles Evans Hughes, in 1916. So you see, there's a good reason for Romney to invest in the Jewish vote. If Romney gets 30% or above of the Jewish vote – not an easy benchmark – it is almost like getting insurance policy against losing.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Shmuel Rosner is an Israeli columnist and editor. He formerly wrote for the Jerusalem Post and served as chief U.S. correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He writes a weekly column for The International Herald Tribune/New York Times. He blogs at Rosner's Domain and his latest book is "The Jewish Vote: Obama vs. Romney: A Voter’s Guide" (2012).

Visitor Comments: 44

(27)
Bill,
November 6, 2012 2:18 PM

If American Jews can't support a pro Israel candidate , why do the rest of us bother ? Support for progressive liberal causes end world wide when fail to support their founding principles , especially liberty !

If American Jews won't support the pro Israel candidate , why do the rest of care so much . I am ashamed for the Jewish community that they don't see without liberty the American liberalism they claim to embrace is eventually lost to the world . Political reality is supporting causes that don't get you elected means those causes go away . Israel included !

(26)
David,
November 6, 2012 6:45 AM

Jewish Vote

Let's Vote for Mashiakh....

(25)
Anonymous,
November 5, 2012 4:20 AM

Jews do make a difference in a close election

I beg to differ that Jews never make a difference. In 2000 Bush would not have won Florida, and hence the election, if 20000 Jews had not "accidentally" voted for Pat Buchanan instead of Gore as they intended. G-d works through the Jews.

(24)
Alex,
November 5, 2012 3:40 AM

Israel!!!

When someone says that Obama supports Israel, just look at who Arabs prefer to win election. Since they want Barack Hussein Obama to win, shouldn't Jews vote for Romney?

Ha ha,
November 5, 2012 10:43 AM

I guess if you are not a separatist, then, you prefer one over the other? Enjoy the company of the right wing extremists. They LOVE you... LMBO!

Alex,
November 5, 2012 6:52 PM

You made a great point. Unfortunately, nowadays the company of the right wing extremists is better than the company of radical left that Obama belongs to. Reality changed from 50 years ago. American Jews refuse to recognize this change.

(23)
Alex,
November 4, 2012 6:22 PM

Obama policies hurt Israel

If you vote for Democrats in every elections, these elections are different. Obama policies hurt Israel. His policies encourage Israel' enemies. Voting against Obama will support Israel.

(22)
Ohioan,
November 4, 2012 4:34 AM

2 days until change arrives

Romney's ahead among Independents in every poll and the Republicans are more enthusiastic than the Democrats this year. So, landslide for Romney coming on Nov. 6 !!

Cincinnati, OH,
November 4, 2012 10:58 AM

G-d Willing!

Pray for this "change' then vote. Encourage all your friends to vote.

Alex,
November 4, 2012 9:19 PM

Ohio Jews may decide these elections. Please help get BHO out of office!

Anonymous,
November 5, 2012 10:45 AM

OK!!!!!!!!

(21)
Shimshon,
November 3, 2012 6:13 AM

The Picture alone brought me to my hammer

I did not read one word of the posting. The image alone drives my response.For obama to wear a kippa and place his hand on the wall and pray provoked me. Let me guess what his prayer was for "that the wall to be torn down and the Jews be pushed into the sea" . I saw obama's wife on video say " all of this for a damn flag" and he said "yeah I know". They were referring to the American flag, What if it was our flag? The flag that I sing the prayer of Hatikva "Paryer of Hope" to , I sing not to a flag but to Hashem,
If you want the Messiach to return, you can't set on your liberal minded asses and expect that to be your hand/hammer of action. Chanukah is fast approaching. Be a Hammer NOW and may the Temple be rebuilt in our day
Liberalism is Hellenism

Ben,
November 4, 2012 3:36 PM

To Shimshon

AMEN!!

(20)
John Smith,
November 1, 2012 2:24 PM

The idea that Jews always vote Democratic because of the Christian South is nonsense.
The South has only recently become solid GOP territory and consistently voted Democrat for 100 years.
As for "issues of social justice", I find that hard to believe since the Democrats were the party of slavery, the KKK and Jim Crow laws.
Today the US has the most anti Israel President ever. He has repeatedly snubbed Netanyahu, called for the restoration of the 1948 borders, leaked confidential Israeli military information to Iran, and supported all the Islamist Arab uprisings while ignoring the non Islamist Iranian uprising.
Obama sees Israel as a creation of the "imperialist" West. A watching of Obama's America 2016 or a reading of the book Dreams From My Father will show you Obama's world view and his belief that the West needs to pay for their "crimes".

Cincinnati, Ohio,
November 1, 2012 6:55 PM

Agree

Our dear leader, Barack Obama, is blank slate with no mind of his own. The largely liberal and pro-Palestinan media have fawned him and painted their beliefs upon him. They have "created" the "perfect" President, and they will uplift him at any opportunity and support him without accomplishment to force their own agenda. I think, most recently in the Presidential debates, some have finally seen the Emperor with no cloths.

(19)
Anonymous,
October 31, 2012 9:00 PM

Obama, Romney & Israel

I am told that Jewish people generally support Republican candidates-but am not at all sure Romney really "has Israel's back" (as Obama says) or IF, as with so many statements he has made, this is for campaign "show." Do not trust the man, do not think he is good for the US or Israel.

(18)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2012 4:58 PM

Obama has Israel's Back

During the presidential debates President Obama made it abundantly clear with exact words that "we have Israel's" back when it comes to Iran. There are so many things in the intelligence communities of Israel, the U.S. and Great Britain that cannot be made known to the public.
Voting for Mitt Romney is a vote against our elderly, women's rights for so many things. The deduction for mortgage interest that a lot of enjoy taking from our taxes each year no longer be allowable. In short, its going to cost us all.

(17)
Paul Kessler,
October 30, 2012 12:43 AM

Smart Jews

Last year I spent three weeks as Sar-El volunteer in Israel. I was hard pressed to find anyone who believed Obama was a friend. One might start by reading "Dreams From My Father" since I can find no one who has read it. Then if you can find speeches about jews and Israel of his Pastor, Rev Wright, his hero for 20 years. Then if you still vote for Obama I must wonder what planet are you from. But forget Israel, and worry about an Obama U.S. I immigrated from a communist country and not for an Obama type U.S. I cannot find one person from overseas for Obama, Russians, Chinese, Europeans. Though I don't know any, I am sure Muslims are for Obama.

(16)
Deborah,
October 29, 2012 10:50 PM

Obama is not Pro-Israel!

As a person who has just returned from Israel it is clear that Obama is not a supporter of Israel. He did not visit Israel during his Middle East tour and there is no reason to believe based on the last 4 years that he will support Israel in a manner commensurate with the importance of the relationship between Israel and the US.
Vote for Romney for the sake of this country and for Israel!

(15)
Shirley C. Weiner,
October 29, 2012 3:41 PM

How could a committed Jew think of voting for Romney.
He just doesn"t have Jewish Values and certainly not
Tikkun Olam. He chose a runningt mate ,Paul Ryan who
is not even supported by the Catholic Church. President Obama is not only a good friend to Israel but is a MENSCH in every sense of the word.

debbie gold,
October 29, 2012 10:25 PM

Obama has not been a friend to Israel.

Israel is not supporting Obama. In fact the Prime Minister of Israel held up a poster of Obama with a thick red line through saying that Obama is the most hostile President in history towards Israel. After just coming back from Israel and talking to people there Israel is hoping for a Romney win.I am Jewish and will be voting for Mitt Romney. There are many other issues such as the economy where Obama has just failed.

Aviva,
October 30, 2012 6:22 AM

Couldnot agree with you more!

President Obama has shown true qualities of leadership these past four years.He inherited the biggest "mess"when he took office in the history of our country. Also,those of our tribe who find fault with his relations with Israel,should remember the last debate,right here in Boca Raton,Fl where I have lived for 30 yearswhen he responded to Romneys assertion that he never visited Israel as President where politely shown that he not only was there shortly after taking office,but unlike Romneys' visit last month which was more a findraiser,aided by his friend Sheldon Adelson,than Obamas visit when he went to settlements that where under siege and still are by terrorists.He also visited Yad Vashem and was extremel moved . He never publized.the visit,my opinion is he feared a backlash from those who would prevent his mission to start peace talks moving again.

(14)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2012 11:49 AM

Obama's record on Israel

Obama provided Israel with the largest amount of American military aid in U.S. history, including:
* Over $3 billion per year to assist Israel’s military to ensure it has the latest and most efficient technologies and weapons available; and
* $275 million in supplemental funding to develop the Iron Dome missile system, praised by Israel’s defense leaders for its “exceptional” success at saving the lives of Israelis who live under threat from Hamas’ rockets.
* Additional funding for the Arrow and David’s Sling missile systems, bringing the total funding for missile defense to $650 million—double the amount spent by the Bush Administration.
Obama restored Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) with advanced weaponry by:
* Signing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Act;
* Selling Israel bunker busting bombs and F-35 fighter planes while fast-tracking arms sales;
* Committing American troops to the 2009 Juniper Cobra and 2012 Austere Challenge joint military exercises—the largest and most extensive exercises ever with Israel;
* Authorizing Israel to use American weapons stored in Israel during an emergency; and
* Working with Israel to combat smuggling into Gaza.
Obama’s diplomatic support for Israel is unparalleled. Obama:
* Forcefully opposed the Palestinians’ attempt to unilaterally declare a state;
* Rallied the world against a nuclear-armed Iran and continues to lead the sanctions effort by example;
* Voted with Israel 100% of the time at the United Nations, a first in modern history;
* Defended Israel’s legitimacy on the world stage, and vocally protested efforts to isolate Israel at the United Nations and in UN bodies;

(13)
joan gleicher,
October 29, 2012 4:29 AM

The Jewish Vote in elections

I'm hoping that Jewish voters come to their senses and vote for Obama; he is good for the middle class, believes in investing in education, keeping social security, medicare (another words, ) , and also he is for womens' issues andnot letting the elderly go by the wayside and he is pro-Israel. We also need healthcare for everyone and not a voucher system that will be for no one. We also need a President that will be chose a pro-choice candidate and will hot turn back the time clock to 150 years! Thank goodness for liberal Jews that are also Pro-Israel. Bravo to Edgar Bronfman that has come out for Pres. Obama for re-election.

Emily,
October 29, 2012 10:45 AM

Pro-Israel???

Anyone who is pro-Israel would never even dream of voting for Obama!!! I am not sure where your facts are from?? Know your facts... if you are for Israel then vote against Obama.

JR Bright,
October 29, 2012 1:39 PM

nobama

Vote Republican and vote for REAL change!

Doctor Dalai,
November 5, 2012 1:00 AM

Why the fascination with abortion?

Joan, please tell us why the abortion issue trumps the security of Israel in your mind? You clearly believe the lies the Democrats have told about Romney and support for the elderly and so forth, and you can be forgiven for that...at least your heart is in the right place if not your thinking. But you mention abortion twice. WHY, as Jews, should we be so horribly obsessed with something that isn't even generally permitted under Jewish Law? HMMMMM?? Please explain it to us. I, for one, don't get it.

(12)
Murray Cohen,
October 29, 2012 1:09 AM

Obama has abandaned Israel

Obama has abandaned Israel. That is easily seen through his actions and words. He has accepted Muslim leaders in discussions but until now has not found time to meet with America's best ally in the Middle East, the prime minister of Israel.

Esther,
October 29, 2012 11:40 AM

Untrue!

It's fashionable to slander Obama as some sort of lunatic, but follow the news: it's simply not true. He's met countless times with Netanyahu, sold Israel more military equipment than any previous president, stated that his goal is to maintain Israeli military superiority (and acted to do so), and fought the rest of the world to impose oil-based, crippling sanctions on Iran - not to mention probably being behind the assasinations and computer viruses that have crippled Iran's nuclear program. It's easy to say "oh, Obama hates Israel or Jews or America or whatever" - and people slander him constantly like that - but it's based on prejudice and ignorance. The facts show he's been a huge friend of Israel.

Terena,
October 29, 2012 3:50 PM

Not a friend of Israel

Agreed, he is a wolf in sheeps clothing! His words and actions have shown time and again that he would throw Israel under the bus in a heartbeat. Wake up people and do your research and quit blindly following the herd.

(11)
Fran Duff,
October 29, 2012 12:40 AM

VOTING OBAMA

Always voting I considered my Independant and voted for the
man whom I would select because I thought he was the best.
Obama is not the for Israel or the Jewish people. He treated
Netanyahu terribly and visited Saudis several times but not
Israel. The Jewish people are smart now why aren't you
using those smarts. I love the Jewish people and know in
my heart Obama will not be thinking about Israel or the Jews.
Did he care about the Americans that were killed in
Benghazi who were Americans. Israel needs a leader
who will support her and Obama will not in how he has
treated her by his action in his first term. VOTE even if you
don't for OBAMA .

(10)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2012 12:13 AM

Republicans would shove their social agenda

If Romney wins, the Republicans would shove their social agenda down the throats of the rest of the country. There is no way that I would vote for them.

Daniel,
November 4, 2012 3:36 PM

"Their social agenda" is WHY I'm voting for them

There is no way I could vote for a man who opposed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

(9)
Ivan Silverstein,
October 28, 2012 10:53 PM

Ask Obama What the Capital of Israel is !!

I think that Obama has shown what he thinks of Israel and her Prime Minister with his " off Mike Moment " with President Sarkozy and with his return to 1967 borders. But even if American Jews care nothing for Israel they should vote for Romney just for the Economy. As a community organizer Obama only knows how to spend other peoples Money, he has no idea on how to earn it !

(8)
karen,
October 28, 2012 10:04 PM

Outstanding article and great comments
We need Romney and we need IsREAL.

(7)
Cincinnati, Ohio,
October 28, 2012 7:54 PM

Get Your Priorities Straight

I continue to be stunned that any Jewish person can vote for Obama. He is a G-d-less anti-semite (with similar "friends"). I am also stunned by so few comments to this article. There would be twice the amount if it was an article about food.

(6)
uncle ted,
October 28, 2012 5:50 PM

No! to alienating the US most steadfast ally

On every score Jews should support Romney
Obama has throwm overboard the traditional pro Israel policy Israel should return to the 1967 borders,; his spokesman J Carney could not bring himself to give a straight answer to whether Obama stood by his pre election statement that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel He visited Arab and Muslim countries but not Israel He has emboldened anti Israel states to continue their policies of trying to destroying the Jewish state
Romney will be a true friend of Israel ,I have no doubt

(5)
Zynnek,
October 28, 2012 5:06 PM

This is not your grandfather's Democratic Party

ATTENTION: JEWISH DEMOCRATS "THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S DEMOCRAT PARTY ! A PARTY THAT NEGOTIATES FOR THE PALESTINEANS ? Obama’s "pro-Israel" fact list may satisfy some, BUT ... nothing can change the fact that Obama's 2012 Democrat platform clearly revealed his agenda of appeasing the Islamic world and abandoning his "unbreakable bond with Israel."

(4)
M Tauber,
October 28, 2012 4:57 PM

one Jew's opinion

I am a religious Jewish woman from NY who traditionally voted Democratic but have already swung to Republican side for a while. Reason? The democrats push and admire all the lowest and baser ideas and actions of our times. So besides Israel (which basically is really not much different who is in power) where I could help - is raising the moral standards. I hope that I am part of a large segment of Jews (across the religious map) who feel the same way.

(3)
Joel C. Lobel,
October 28, 2012 4:54 PM

Wake Up

I hope that the Jewish Voters and others will wake up and vote for Mitt Romney, because he will change our economy for the good of all and he will be able to reach over to the other side and compromise to get the job done.

Moshe,
October 28, 2012 8:32 PM

Amayn!

Vote Romney for the sake and freedom of Israel and the USA

(2)
Esther,
October 28, 2012 4:34 PM

hardly "non-partisan"

This article should be called "why some Jews are voting Republican" as goes into this phenomenon in detail while ignoring the reasons a majority of Jews vote Democratic.

Cincinnati, OH,
October 28, 2012 8:24 PM

Change our Party Affiliation/ not our agenda

Jews have historically voted democratic, in part, due to issues of social justice and "repairing the world." At present, I don't believe that the democratic party is the best suited for this purpose.

(1)
Columbus, Ohio,
October 28, 2012 12:51 PM

GOP Gaining More Jewish Support

After the election, a lot of Democrat Jews will be surprised to find out that Romney has received , at least, 40% of the total Jewish vote. In Florida alone, Romney is a head from 3-5 points and Romney could not have such a lead without having a significant number of Jews living in Florida supporting him. Given Obama's record for the past 4 years, Obama has made it easy for many Jews to vote for Romney this year.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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